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Kirk’s dik-dik
"There are four different species of dik-diks. They all live in the wild in Africa."
Food
leaves, grass and fruit
Life span
4 years
Weight
2.5 - 6.5 kg
Number of young
1
Gestation period
5,5 - 6 months
Habitat
dry forest areas in eastern and southwestern Africa
IUCN Status
Safe
EEP
Yes
About the Kirk’s dik-dik
Kirk’s dik-dik is a small antelope that lives on open grasslands in Africa. When in danger, it flees into the bushes, making a warning sound: "dik-dik". This is how it got its name. Thanks to dew and sparse water consumption, it can go months without drinking. Its slurpy nose acts like an air conditioner: it cools its blood by panting. Dik-diks live in flocks and mark their territory with a distinctive scent ritual. Predators such as panthers, jackals and eagles hunt the dik-dik.
How did the dik-dik get its name?
Dik-diks live in areas with lots of open grassland. This allows them to keep a close eye on their surroundings while eating. When there is danger, they quickly flee into the bushes. As they flee, they make a sound that sounds like "dik-dik."
Water Conservation
Kirk’s dik-dik need very little water. They can go months without really drinking. They get moisture from the dew that sits on leaves. They also use the moisture in their bodies very sparingly. The droppings of this dikdik are the driest of all antelope species.
Air conditioning in your nose
A dik-dik's nose almost looks like a trunk. This is an adaptation to cool down. The blood flowing through the nose is cooled as it breathes. When a dik-dik is very hot, he gasps through his nose and the blood is cooled even more. This is helpful because in the dik-dik's habitat, it regularly gets about 40 degrees.
Buffet
Dik-diks live in areas where kudu and zebra also live. Kudu eat leaves and branches of bushes. By doing so, they ensure that the bushes in their area do not grow higher than about one meter. Zebras eat grass. They graze and keep the grass short. With their way of eating, kudu and zebra ensure that enough plants grow at the perfect height for dik-diks.
Special ritual
Dik-diks live in pairs. A male and a female have a territory together. They are almost always together. To let other dik-diks know what their territory is, dikdiks use their scent. They do this with a special ritual. The female defecates and urinates in a certain place. The male then smells there with his mouth open and his lip raised. Then he kicks the female's droppings with his front paws. Finally, he defecates and urinates over the female's pile.
Beware!
Dik-diks are so small, they are a tasty snack for many predators. In the wild, they have to watch out for panthers, cheetahs, jackals and hyenas. But danger also comes from the sky. Large birds of prey, such as eagles, also regularly hunt dik-diks. The only predator a dik-dik need not fear is the lion. Lions eat about 35 to 50 pounds of meat per week. So a four-pound dik-dik is not worth it to a lion.